Sterilizer



Dec. 28, 1937. v H. E.CANN 2,103,709,

STERILIZER Filed Dec. 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E a Q mp2s /z Willi-55::

I J l Patented Dec. 28, 1937 I 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STERILIZER.

Harry E. Cann, West Chester, Pa. Application December 5, 1931, Serial No. 579,314

v1 Claim. (emf-9s) This invention relates to new and useful implates close the ends of the valley thus formed by provements in sterilizing devices, and particularsaid plates. The device I6 is disposed with its ly to devices for sterilizingreceptacles andutenends in the front and rear of the'cabinet, and the sils which contained or have come in contact with upper edges of the plates l8 rest on the supports milk and cream. 20, carried by the inner faces of the sides of the 5 It has been found that, when moist, and in the cabinet. Disposed transversely within the cabinet presence of moisture, bacteria will coagulate and is a perforated plate 2|, having its lateral edges die at certain temperatures, and that when dry, resting on the upper edges of the plates l8, and and in the absence of moisture, the lethal temits front and rear edges secured to the upper 10 peratures are much higher. The melting point of edges of the plates l9. Disposed centrally within 10 i the solder, with which the parts of the commonly the front and rear ends of the valley of the conused receptacles are secured together, is about vection device l6 are the vertical posts 22, which 350 F., so that it becomes necessary to maintain have secured thereto the ends of the members 23, the interior of the cabinet below this temperature carrying the electrical resistance elements 24. i5 and, at the same time, produce a condition therein Disposed transversely in the cabinet and sup- 1 that will destroy bacteria. ported a short distance above the perforated plate It is, therefore, the principal object of the in- 2i, is a grating 25, on whichlthe inverted recepvention to provide a sterilizing device wherein the tacles to be dried are placed. heated air is brought to a highly humid condition, Secured in the top of the cabinet is a vent pipe so that the bacteria will be completely destroyed. 26, through which the vapor is adapted to escape, 29

Another object is to provide a sterilizing device when the pressure reaches a predetermined dewherein the air, which is heated in the lower porgree. Also mounted on the top of the cabinet, altion of the device, is humidified, whereby to prethough the same may be mounted on a side therevent the too rapid rise of such air, thereby perof, is a thermostat 21, of any well known type, mitting an even distribution of the heat to all the same being connected with the heater 24, by

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parts of the device, at the same time. the wires 28, and to a source of electricity by the Another object is to provide a sterilizing device wires 29. wherein the moisture, after having served its va- Mounted within the cabinet, at a suitable height rious purposes, is released through a vent, wherefrom the bottom thereof, is a perforated shelf 30,

30 by the receptacles are dried as well as sterilized. on which receptacles and utensils are placed for 30 Other objects and advantages will be apparent sterilization,said shelf permitting passage of heatfrom the following description when taken in con ed air and steam therethrough. It will be undern tion with the c mpanyin drawin s. stood that, while I show a single shelf, 1 may pro- Inthe drawings: vide as many as the size of the cabinet will ac- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a cabinetmade commodate. 35 in accordance with the present invention, the door In the operation of the device, the operator being partly broken away. places a plurality of washed, but undried recep- Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view on tacles and utensils on the grating, and on the the line 22 of Figure l. shelf, the receptacles being placed in an in- 40 Figure 3 is a vertical central sectional view on verted position. The elements 24 are then-raised 4c the line 33 of Figure 2. to the required temperature, by the application Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the of an electric current, with the result that heat is line 4-4 of Figure 2. radiated therefrom to heat the plates of the Referring particularly to the accompanying convection device l6. The perforated convection drawings, there is shown a cabinet, designated as plate 2| becomes very warm, but because of the 45 a whole by the numeral l0, and including the side fact that the receptacles in the lower portion of walls II, the top and bottom walls It" and I3, and the cabinet rest on the grating 25, said recepthe rear wall l4, the front being open and protacles are held against direct contact with said vlded with the door ii. In the lower portion of plate, and from directly absorbing the heat by the cabinet is located the heating and convection conduction. Water from the interiors of the reto device, designated as a whole by the numeral l6. ceptacles, as well as from the exteriors thereof, The convection device includes the downwardly runs down the walls of the receptacles and converging plates Hi, the lower edges of which through the grating 25 onto the convection plate are properly secured together,andhave their ends 2| which, as already stated, has become very secured to the triangular end plates l9, which warm. Such drippings as have not become con- 55 verted into vapor from the heat of the plate 2|, pass through the perforations in that plate and onto the heated plates of the convection device I5 where they become converted into vapor. The vapors thus created serve as a. check on the otherwise rapid rise of the heated air, so that the heat is conveyed by convection to the upper portion of the cabinet, thereby permitting the lower portion of the cabinet to be raised to the sterilizing temperature as rapidly as the upper portion, with the result that the general or average temperature of the entire interior of the cabinet is raised more evenly. Any water not becoming vaporized upon striking the plate 2| will drop into the valley therebeneath.

The fact that the dropping water from the receptacles is converted into vapor, serves as a barrier against the too rapid rise of the heated air, to the top of the cabinet, whereby to more effectively produce the complete sterilization of the receptacles. While it'may be necessary, at times, to place a small quantity of water in the before-mentioned valley, to be converted into vapor, the drippings from the receptacles are usually sufficient to produce the required amount of vapor, for the proper and complete sterilization of the receptacles. The convection currents of heated air are thus prevented from rising too rapidly to the upper portion of the cabinet, as this would superheat the upper portion of the cabinet before the lower portion could become heated to the sterilizing temperature. Furthermore, the humidified heated air will then have sufficient time to penetrate throughout the lower and middle regions of the interior of the cabinet, and to come into contact with all parts of the receptacles therein, as it ascends to the upper portion of the interior of the cabinet, while at the same time, such heated air will destroy any bacteria which might be contained within the cabinet. In addition, the heated air vaporizes any water or moisture film which may have remained on the surfaces of the receptacles.

By means of the thermostat, the electric current is automatically cut off, when the temperature rises above a predetermined degree.

Any steam which may generate within the cabinet, will pass ofi through the vent, thus preventing the accumulation of pressure within the cabinet, and also preventing moisture from condensing on the receptacles, when the cabinet becomes cool.

What is claimed is:

A sterilizing device comprising a closed cabinet for receiving previously washed but undried receptacles, converging plates in the lower portion of the cabinet forming a valley for receiving the drippings from inverted receptacles, a horizontal perforated plate above said valley, a reticulated member above said plate for supporting inverted receptacles and through which said drippings are adapted to pass to said perforated plate, and a heating means within said valley for converting said drippings into steam, whereby to retard the rise of heated air so as to produce an even and continuous circulation of heat by convection to all parts of the interior of the cabinet.

HARRY E. CANN. 

